Creepy camping: ‘Spooktember’ set

September 5, 2012

LAKE LINDEN - The first Lake Linden Spooktember went so well last year, organizers have summoned the ghosts and goblins back for another go-round.

This year's event will take place at the Lake Linden campground on Sept. 15. The Halloween-themed celebration raises funds for the campground and the free Torch Lake Disc Golf Course.

The event is based on one at Van Riper State Park on Lake Michigamme, where it's held three weeks in a row, said organizer Vada Riederich.

"It was so much fun, we thought, 'Why leave the area when we've got a perfect place in our own backyard?'" she said.

The Farmer's Market will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the park gazebo. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be nature trail hayrides, which will leave near the campground entrance. The approximately 45-minute ride is $3 for adults 17 and over, $2 for students and seniors 62 and over and $1 for children under 6. The latter group must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

New this year is a food art demonstration at the campground pavilion by Patrick Curtin, chef at the Old School Bakery, who will carve vegetables.

At Campsite No. 10, there will be good fortunes told by Esmeralda, the Good Fortune Teller for $2, as well as popcorn for $1.

At 4 p.m., people can visit with Oreo and Snickers, pet skunks from the Delaware Mine. At the same time, there will be a treasure hunt. There will be a disc golf tournament at 5 p.m. Participation is $3. An LED disc golf tournament will follow at 9 p.m.; that one, with which the LED is included, costs $6.

"It's pretty neat to see that," Riederich said. "I understand that that's pretty nice to see up on the hill where the nature trail is, you can look down on that golf course and see those discs flying from one station to another. They're lit, so it adds to the light attraction there."

Another new attraction this year is the Ghostly Boat Regatta. That event, which is being organized by Kim Tunstall of the Onigaming Yacht Club, is at 6 p.m. The public can watch it from the Lake Linden Park and surrounding area.

The campers' costume parade and trick or treat will be at 7 p.m. Contest registration and trick or treat participation is limited to campers and guests only. Registration can be done for free at site No. 10. Divisions are: Adult (16 and older), youth (12-15), child (6-11), child younger than 6 and family pet. Winners will be posted in the campground pavilion at 9 a.m. Sept. 16.

If the weather is favorable, there will be a sky lantern at 8 p.m. Participants should meet at the campground pavilion. Anyone interested can purchase lanterns for $4 at the campground host site.